CONFESSION OF A GREEK PIRATE. 313 tromo replied he would not sign it until he had his liberty. Soon after, the other four who were brought with the nostromo were sent for up stairs, the nostromo remaining there also. The acting British Vice Consul said the same to them, namely, that upon their signing the attestation they should be set at liberty:—so they all five signed the paper; the whole of them came down stairs; when I asked them what they had been doing, they told me nothing at all. About five or six days after, the adjutant of the governor, accompanied by Cazzacho, the nephew, and Giorgio Mavromicali, the son of Petro Bey, came to the house, and sent for the nostromo ; and soon after I heard that he had run away. About the same time two persons entered our prison with sticks in their hands, and began to beat all of us, under the pretence that we knew where he was gone, and that we were privy to his escape. On the next day they sent the attestations signed by us to Anastasachi Pasqualigo, the British Vice Consul at Arcadia. In consequence of this Mr. Pasqualigo wrote a letter to the acting British Vice Consul at Calamata, stating that the facts could not be as they had been repre 314 CONFESSION OF A GREEK PIRATE. sented to him, because he had heard of them two months before. The acting British Vice Consul at Calamata having received this letter from Mr. Pasqualigo, immediately went to Captain Costantino to inform him of its contents; and Captain Costantino said to him, We had better write another letter to him, requesting him not to discover us, he being a Greek and a Christian." On the next day they wrote a letter to him, and sent a present to him of honey loaded on four mules, six antique stones, and the gold repeater of the deceased Maltese captain; desiring him to be so kind as to receive them as a little proof of their regard, and as a recompence for the assistance they hoped to receive from him. After being confined thirty-six or thirty-seven days a British frigate arrived, and on the same day in the afternoon we were conveyed on board. "The frigate carried us to Zante, where I was examined, but what I said I do not recollect, having been frequently interrupted, and not permitted to speak. On board the Mistico I sometimes wore an European and sometimes a Greek dress, the same as is worn at Calamata, The deceased captain and the Greek CONFESSION OF A GREEK PIRATE. 315 passenger, when brought down into the cabin, were tied by Gregorio, the spy. I do not know who tied the hands of the two seamen. The Maltese brig arrived at Calamata when I was at Ignocastro. On my return I found her lying there. I had known her captain, Francesco Gristi, on a previous voyage to Calamata a year before. I was requested by him to purchase some figs for him, which I did about twenty or twenty-five cantars, perhaps more. I am married to a native of Calamata, she was living there when I left it. I have been absent from Malta about twelve years, but came to Malta during the plague to settle some accounts. I was previously married in Malta to a native woman, but left her as she proved a woman of bad character. On board the Mistico I sometimes lived in the cabin and sometimes messed with the crew. My wages were six dollars per month. When I quitted the Mistico for the last time I left Gregorio on board. The crew of the Mistico was composed of thirty-five or thirty-six persons in all. I brought the letter which I had received from Captain Giovanni Mavromicali, dated 1st of September, on board the frigate; but lost it 316 CONFESSION OF A GREEK PIRATE. there. The letter now exhibited to me is one which I received from the same person; and is, I think, dated in January. It desired me to come to Zimova, and embark on board the Mistico. I went there, and afterwards returned to Calamata; as the voyage was defeated through the soldiers she was to convey from Armiro to the attack of the Castle at Coron. I have known Gregorio Mavrichi, who is in custody, about six months. I heard on board that he was a Mainote. He was first gunner of the two large guns which were at the forecastle of the Mistico. "Of the various wearing apparel now shown to me in court, I know that a white shirt which was in the possession of Spiro Calavritano (one of the prisoners in custody) was taken from the Maltese brig. The Greek capote, the red sash, and the dark-coloured handkerchief, were in possession of Pano Previsano, (also in custody); and were likewise taken from the Maltese brig. The capote now shown to me was in the possession of Costantino the boy (who is in custody); it was taken from the Maltese brig. The shirt and the red sash, now produced, were in the possession of Strati Aivalioti, and were taken CONFESSION OF A GREEK PIRATE. 317 from the Maltese brig. The quilted coverlid, and I believe the white shirt, were in the possession of Gregorio, (who is in custody); and they were both taken from the Maltese brig. Of the bundle now shown to me, the blue cloth jacket I received at Calamata from Signor Giovanni Coronetopulo; the coloured waistcoat I brought from my house at Calamata; and the blue striped shirt was given to me by the government at Zante. As for the linen shirt and the coloured handkerchief, I do not know to whom they belong. The sash shawl, which I have now upon my person, I purchased at Calamata, about twelve months ago, sailor of a Maltese bombard, commanded by Captain Vincenzo Cachia: the sailor is named Pasquale San Martino. The two striped jackets or waistcoats were taken from the Maltese brig. One of them was in the possession of Costantino, the boy in custody; and the other was in the possession of Athanasi Misconissiote, the cook on board the Mistico, and now in custody. I know these two jackets were taken from the Maltese brig, because such are never worn by Greeks. I gave to Atanasio Mosconissiote, one of the prisoners, a white calico shirt; it from a |